1. How difficult was it adjusting to a new head coach coming in towards the end of the fall semester?
NP - "It was tough with him coming in late, but the fall season is quieter so it wasn't too bad. We had Jay Collins from the basketball team come and help us with our conditioning. We actually had a reasonably productive semester considering we didn't have a coach."

2. How long have you been playing tennis and how did you get started?
NP - "I started playing when I was 11. My friends played and I went along with a buddy once and had a great time and went from there."

3. What is the most difficult aspect of playing collegiate tennis?

NP - "Long road trips are tough. Also, being in the sun for four or five hours a day is tough."

4. What is the biggest challenge you have had to overcome as far as your tennis career?
NP - "The last few years, the transition between the different coaches coming through. It was tough to deal with but we got through it."

5. How have you grown as a tennis player from your freshman season to now?
NP - "Mentally, I've become a lot tougher. With the coaches here and the increased competition, because there's so much depth in college tennis, it's made me a lot tougher mentally."

6. Who has had the biggest impact on your life and why?
NP - "I would have to say my dad. He started off with nothing and came from a very poor background. He worked hard, left school early, got a job, worked his way up and today has become very successful."

7. As the senior captain of the team, what are your responsibilities?
NP - "Just getting everyone motivated. Everyone on the team knows how to play, it's getting them to go out on match day and give everything."

8. What is the strongest aspect of your game?
NP - "I would say my serve and my power game."

9. Why did you choose to attend UTPA?
NP - "There were two English guys on the team who were seniors when I was a freshman. I knew them from back home and they said come on over, it's good fun down here."